Best Cinematography: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
We only have two tech awards left, and we’re covering the categories that deal with what we see visually (either in actuality or with digital enhancement). Today we’re focusing on the more straight forward of the two groups: Best Cinematography. This category gets more and more difficult as the years go on since photographical technology just keeps improving, and even the silliest films can be shot really well. I feel like the five nominees we have are quite strong, and yet I still feel like there are some snubs this year; this is kind of what I mean, if even the lower ranked works here are still well shot enough. Which film looked the best in 2021? For me it’s a clear winner despite everything else I’ve just said, so read on and find out. Here are your nominees.
Biggest Snub: The Green Knight-Andrew Droz Palermo
I could list off a few films that could have been here. Passing. Spencer. Hell, even the Best Picture nominee Belfast (which I was stunned wasn’t here, given how it was a shoe-in even for categories I don’t think it deserved). The one film I’ll place as the biggest snub is The Green Knight, firstly because it is shot gorgeously (adding to the scope and mythos of the entire project), and I secondly wanted to make sure this film got a nod at all (since it was shut out of the entire awards, which is puzzling in some of these tech and art categories).
5. Nightmare Alley-Dan Lausten
I do think Nightmare Alley is shot well, but it is for sure the weakest nominee here. At least there’s quite a bit to love here, from the creeping tracking shots to the hazy visuals (as if Vaseline was smeared on the camera for the entirety of the film). Nightmare Alley feels like a modern, colourful version of a classic noir because of this film’s usage of lighting, shadows, and the faintness of its ghostly photography.
4. The Power of the Dog-Ari Wegner
I want to kick myself for this. I thought I’d be ranking The Power of the Dog higher, but this category really is tough this year, isn’t it? While I think the cinematography truly shines in some instances (especially with the sepia and golden hues), the other films ranked higher than it prioritize their usage of photographical techniques more often. I still adore how The Power of the Dog looks, especially some of its extreme closeups and their antitheses (the wide shots that capture a large-yet-empty world).
3. West Side Story-Janusz Kaminski
While I think West Side Story doesn’t look as nice as The Power of the Dog (save for a few key shots, like the one featured here from a bird’s eye view), it’s the usage of dollies and other crazy movement techniques that elevates it up one notch. If there’s one major advantage that the 2021 version had compared to its 1961 counterpart, it’s just how large its scope can be based on movement alone. It’s like the camera waltzes with the characters it captures, and it’s both fitting and jaw-dropping.
2. Dune-Greig Fraser
Let’s get real here: Dune is one of the best shot action and/or epic films of our time. It’s no secret that Denis Villeneuve works with the best photographers (see Roger Deakins finally winning an Oscar for Blade Runner 2049), and Dune is no different. Not only does it feel like a mammoth film, it also looks beautiful at the same time. This dichotomy is one that is guaranteed to bowl you over, and it’s the kind of extra attention that makes Dune stand out as an exemplary film of its genre.
1. The Tragedy of Macbeth-Bruno Delbonnel
If you’re a frequent reader of Films Fatale, you’re likely not surprised. I’ve been championing The Tragedy of Macbeth for the last few months, especially when it comes to how breathtaking this film looks. I think the black and white photography here is mind blowing, particularly the shots that use shadows and negative spaces to completely eliminate the rest of this Shakespearean stage (as if the story takes place in the depths of our minds). No question: The Tragedy of Macbeth is the best shot film of 2021.
My Review of The Tragedy of Macbeth
Who I want to win: The Tragedy of Macbeth. Next.
Who I think will win: As it stands, Dune looks like it will be sweeping up this category like many other technical and production categories. The only possible upset I can see here is The Power of the Dog swooping in for the kill, but I honestly think Dune has this.
Tune in tomorrow for our next Academy Award category! We’re reviewing every single nominee on every weekday.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.